Guam police find priest with 17- year-old girl

By Jasmine Stole
Marianas Variety
March 19, 2015

http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/74956-guam-police-find-priest-with-17-year-old-girl

Luis Camacho

HAGÅTÑA —   Following the arrest of Rev. Luis Venancio Benavente Camacho, 29, the Archdiocese of Agana announced his resignation as pastor of San Dimas parish in Merizo and San Dionisio parish in Umatac effective immediately.

According to A.J. Balajadia, Guam Police Department public information officer, Camacho was found with a 17-year-old girl at a beach in Agat Tuesday morning. Balajadia said Agat precinct officers arrested Camacho at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Police charged him with custodial interference for being with a female minor who was not in school at the time the priest and the girl were found parked at a beach in Agat, Balajadia said.

Camacho was booked and released. Police and the Agana Archdiocese did not issue further details related to Camacho’s arrest.

Yesterday morning, the Office of the Attorney General said it had no knowledge of Camacho’s arrest. Usually, the AG’s office does not pursue criminal charges until after it is given information by the police.

The archdiocese issued a short statement yesterday evening regarding Camacho’s arrest:

“The Archdiocese of Agana was made aware that Father Luis was booked and released yesterday, March 17, 2015. The alleged offense is custodial interference, according to information provided by the Guam Police Department. The archdiocese has initiated a canonical investigation and is cooperating fully with civil authorities. In the meantime, Father Luis’ faculties have been restricted.”

The statement was issued by Vice Chancellor Rev. Jose Alberto Rodriguez. Sexual Abuse Response Coordinator Deacon Larry Claros said he would not be involved in this case.

According to an October 2013 article from the Archdiocese of Chalan Kanoa of the Northern Mariana Islands, Camacho spent 10 years at the Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Seminary in Yona and graduated from Father Duenas High School in 2003.

He became a deacon in February 2013 and obtained his bachelor’s degree in theology in the spring of 2013.

Camacho is the nephew of Bishop Emeritus Tomas Aguon Camacho, the NMI’s first bishop.